Truck door latching mechanism



Sept. 16, 1969 A. e. o. HIX 3,467,426

TRUCK noon LATCHING MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1967 [mew 4. 0. WM

United States Patent M 3,467,426 TRUCK DOOR LATCHING MECHANISM Alfred G. O. Hix, 3230 Rancho La Carlotta Road, Covina, Calif. 91722 Filed July 18, 1967, Ser. No. 654,201 Int. Cl, Ec 3/04, 3/14; E051) 3/08 US. Cl. 292-218 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A latching apparatus for truck doors, as for example, an abutting pair of double doors, incorporating an elongate rotatably-rnounted rod carried on a door for engaging and disengaging spaced-apart latching members and including a helical section matingly received in a yoke that is in turn affixed to a handle mechanism for locking the elongate member in a latching position. Set screws variously position the yoke axially on the helical section of the rod, to accomplish and maintain the desired angular displacement between the latching members and the handle.

Background of the invention One form of latching structure that is widely used for the abutting double doors of the type commonly laced on enclosed truck bodies employs an elongate rod, bar, tube or other member, extending substantially the full height of the doors and carrying a centrally-located handle for revolving the rod to engage and disengage a latching apparatus. Of course, a wide variety of detailed differences exist in various of these structures; however, the common feature resides in the elongate rod which carries spaced-apart latches for the doors, an anchor latch to the truck body and a locking arrangement. Furthermore, the rod may also function to some degree as a torsion bar affording tight closure of the doors by applying a spring force thereto. In one specific form of the latching structure, the elongate rod carries radial cam extensions that are angularly displaced from a handle that is also mounted on the rod. The handle is used to release and engage the cam extensions to latch the doors to the truck body by revolving the rod. Additionally, the handle incorporates structure for locking it against one of the doors to fix the rod in a position in which the doors are sealed closed.

As these latching structures are used, the repeated application of torque forces to the elongate bar or rod tends to accomplish a permanent set in the bar. Furthermore, doors are frequently bent or Warped and mating edges become worn over a period of use. As a result, the desired angular relationship between the handle and the latching cam extensions varies and a sloppy or ineffective closure of the doors is the result. In general, prior practice to remedy this fault has been to heat the bars with a torch, and apply sufiicient torque forces to re-establish the desired angular relationship; However, such a practice is difficult, expensive and time consuming. In this regard, it is often necessary to completely remove the latching structure from the truck to avoid seriously damaging the paint or other finish on the doors. Furthermore, with this technique of torsion twisting the hot elongate rod, it is quite difficult to accomplish precisely the desired angular relationship between the latching cam extensions and the handle carried on the bar. Therefore, a need exists for an improved latching structure of the general class described, incorporating specific elements for accommodating physical changes and overcoming these difficulties of prior mechanisms.

3,467,426 Patented Sept. 16,, 1969 Summary of the invention The door latching structure hereof incorporates an elongate rod or the like, carrying latching elements for engagement with means to hold the doors closed. The rod also carries a handle incorporating a lock apparatus, whereby the rod may be locked in a position to retain the doors closed. The handle is afiixed to the elongate rod by a coupling that is variable to establish different radial positions of the handle relative to the bar so as to vary the angular relationship between the handle and the latching elements. Specifically, the bar incorporates an integral helical section which matingly receives a yoke that is in turn connected to the handle. Axial displacement of the yoke along the rod then varies the radial position of the handle on the rod, to accomplish the de sired angular relationship with the latching elements.

Brief description of the drawings The drawings disclosing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention to indicate the various objects and advantages hereof sets forth as follows:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevation of a truck body, incorporating a latching structure constructmed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken transversely through the structure of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side plan view of a portion of the structure of FIGURE 2.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring initially to FIGURE 1, there is shown a truck body 10 the rear of which is closed by a pair of abutting double doors 12 and 14 individually carried on hinge pairs 16 and 18 respectively. The doors 12 and 14 are held closed by a latching structure 20 including a vertical elongate rod 22 extending substantially the full height of the doors and rotably affixed adjacent the mating edge 23 of the door 14 by a pair of bearing units 24 and 26. The rod 22 may revolve freely in the bearing units 24 and 26 which may comprise simply clamp straps fixed to the door 14.

The upper and lower ends of the rod 22 carry transversely extending cams 28 and 30 for latching to the door 12. A similar cam 32 is mounted near the upper end of the bar 22 for latching to the truck body. Each the earns 28, 30 and 32 engage a receiver latch to the doors to the body 10. Specifically, the cam 28 matingly engages a receiver 34 centrally affixed to the top 36 of the truck body 10. The cams 30 and 32 engage receivers 38 and 40 aflixed adjacent the abutting edge of the door 12. When the cams are engaged in their respective receivers, the handle 42 may be forced inward toward the door 14 and dropped into locking engagement with a clasp 44. When the doors 12 and 14 are so closed, the cam 28 is snugly held in the receiver 34 on the truck body 10, pulling the door 14 closed against a gasket (not shown) or other closure, through the bearing units 24 and 26. The other door 12 is held closed by the cams 30 and 32 which are locked in position and snugly latched to the receivers 38 and 40 on the door 12.

When the handle 42 is urged toward the door 14 and locked adjacent thereto by the clasp 44, the rod 22, being engaged with the receiver 34 is in some torsion. The door 14 may include a lip (not shown) extending under the door 12 for a tighter closure and a gasket (not shown) may also be provided for the same purpose. With the passage of time, the doors may become warped or be bent, the gasket material may become worn or shrink and repeated twisting of the rod 22 may result in some permanent set. Upon the occurrence of such changes the closure of the doors 12 and 14 becomes sloppy and it is then desirable to establish a new angular relationship between the handle 42 and the cams 28, 30 and 32 as these elements are carried on the rod 22. In the structure hereof, a coupling 46 afiixing the handle 42 to the rod 22 may be varied to reestablish the desired relationship. The details of the coupling 46 and associated structure will now be considered with reference to the other figures hereof.

It is to be noted that the same 28 and 30 (FIGURE 2) are integral with the rod 22, joined thereto by annular shoulder sections 48. Also integral with the rod 22 is a somewhat centrally, axially-aligned helical section 50. The helical section 50 defines helical corners 52 extending axially with the rod 22 and matingly received in a yoke 54 (shown in phantom in FIGURE 2). That is, the helical section 50 is matingly received in the yoke 54 which in turn receives the transverse handle 42 in a pivotal connection of a hinge pin 56. Thus, a pair of rotational axial displacement members are provided between the handle 42 and the rod 22.

At the base of the helical section 50 an integral rectangular horizontal platform 60 is provided for supporting the yoke 54. The horizontal height of the helical section 50 is substantially greater than the thickness of the yoke 54 carried thereon. Therefore, the yoke 54 may be raised or lowered upon the helical section 50, which movement revolves the yoke 54 to alter the radial position of the handle 42. The axial displacement of the yoke 54 with respect to the rod 22 is established by set screws 62 and 64 (FIGURE 4) threadably engaged in the platform 60. The set screws 62 and 64 carry lock nuts 66 and 68 for maintaining the elevation of the set screws with respect to the platform 60 and thereby establishing the elevation of the yoke 54.

Normally, the various components of the latching apparatus will be formed of steel employing various preformed components. For example, the rod 22 may be of steel bar, pipe, rod and so on. The elements of the coupling 46 may be cast to accomplish the desired male and female helical configurations then welded to sections forming the rod 22 which in turn receives the cams. In one practical embodiment hereof, it has been found desirable to provide a twenty degree are of rotation for the yoke 54 in relation to the rod 22, with approximately one half inch vertical displacement. The cams, receivers, handle and so on may be variously made of steel for example, as by casting, swaging or by other well known processes.

The latching structure may be variously aflixed to a truck body as by bolts, welding or so on. In this regard, the installation is somewhat simplified because the component parts need not mate with precision initially as they can be aligned after the installation.

After a period of use, the elements of the latching structure may change, as described, with the result that when the handle 42 is pressed firmly against the door 14 (FIGURE 1) the doors 12 and -14 remain loose. his

therefore desirable to displace thehandle 42 outward from a the door 14 in relation to the rod 22. This variation is accomplished by releasing the lock nuts 66 and 68- (-FIG- URE 4) and turning the set screws 62 and 64 upwardly through the platform 60, .to raise the yoke 54 which displaces the handle 42 (FIGURE 3) in a clockwise ,direetions may be attained to precisely and repeatedly accomplish the desired snug closure of the doors 12 and 14.

Advantages of the invention The system hereof enables precise establishment of the relationship between the locking handle and the latching cams of a door-latching structure as employed on trucks. The system affords precise settings whereby torsion forces may be closely controlled.

The mechanism hereof, as illustratively disclosed may be inexpensively manufactured, easily installed and rapidly used to maintain an effective seal between truck doors and a truck body as a matter of regular and simple maintenance. Yet the apparatus does not interfere with the routine use of the doors. Other and incidental advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What is claimed is:

1. latching structure, as for the doors of a vehicle, comprising:

an elongate rod means, including latching means atfixed thereto;

means for atfixing said rod means to one of said doors whereby said rod means may rotate;

mating means aflixed to said vehicle for engaging said latching means to retain said doors closed;

handle means for rotating said rod means to engage and disengage said mating means with said latching means; and

a helical member axially affixed to said rod means; a

yoke member matingly receiving said helical member and affixed to said handle means; and means for displacing said yoke member axially along said helical member, whereby said handle means may be set to extend from said rod means at various, relatively angularly-offset radial positions.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for displacing said yoke member includes at least one set screw meansfor occupying a variable space between said yoke member and said helical member.

3. A structure according to claim 2 wherein said handle means is hinged to said yoke member whereby to engage and disengage said locking means.

4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises a helical member axially aflixed to said rod means; a yoke member matingly receiving said helical member and atfixed to said handle means; and means for displacing said yoke member axially along said helical member.

5. .A structure according to-claim 4 wherein said means for displacing said yoke member includes at least one set screw. means for occupying a variable space between sai yoke member and. said helical member. I

a References r UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,186,038 ls/i916- Ramsey et al. 292-218 3.151.828, 10 19 4 Ol n er 2921 2,312,493 21/1967 Olander 292 218 manvm'afqcnxmrom Primary Examiner 

